Filmmaker :
James Edwards

The world under the sand

Xavier is a 9 year old performer and musician who is a part of the 50
young people who have created a show about Newcastle Bath's Map of the World pool. Here Xavier writes about his experience.

I was involved in Tantrum Youth Art's last school holiday workshops at the Wetlands and I really enjoyed it. When I heard there would be another show about the Newcastle baths I thought I would do it from the very first second I heard about it.

There was two weeks of holiday workshops. We developed costumes, made postcards, played games, swam at the baths, made up a dance performance and played. I also did a music recording playing my trumpet and my Nanny's Tibetan Singing Bowls.

We also interviewed Ella's Grandmother about her memory of the world pool. The question I asked her was there any location names on the map itself? The answer was no there wasn't, there were colours but no words.

The show is about the history of the Map of the World pool which was opened in 1937 and was destroyed in 1971. It is a pool that has a big history and was built before World War II. It is about made up worlds by contributors of the workshop which are Postcardia, Ghostlandia and Memorabilia.

I am in Postcardia and I play myself. I recount my dream holiday visiting Hawaii. I am also in the opening segment which is a flashback about the opening of the world pool, and finale which is a dance. It has been very exciting and very salty and very WINDY!

The best part has been doing the music recording because I was able to use some of my own instruments. I also learnt how to express my voice better because outside there are times without a microphone and the wind can carry your voice away. I have also enjoyed making new friends.